Orchids and Onions: The list of recipients

Ultimately, there can be no justification for the sort of architecture that stakes a claim to historic richness then delivers a thick, soupy agglomeration that would embarrass the designers of Knott’s Berry Farm. The jurors felt that faux historicism suffered a well-deserved death in the ‘80s, and that it has been demonstrated at O&O that publicly funded construction need not be mediocre but can indeed inspire.

The People’s Choice voting public overwhelmingly agreed that the Fallbrook Library is a spectacular success, and a wonderful addition to the community. Although it may have taken over 10 years to come to fruition, the library is, as one commenter said “ just wonderful; the design celebrates the commitment this community has made to the creation of a cultural hub for learning; really beautiful and dynamic!” Another website visitor noted, “This project exemplifies how libraries should evolve from static repositories of books, to dynamic hubs of community, connection, and learning.” Many of the comments also mention the beautiful architecture, use of natural light, landscaping, the incorporation of local artwork into the building and the application of sustainable features, like the green roof.

The community is clearly pleased. The old library was replaced with something modern and sustainable, ultimately creating a great signature building for Fallbrook. The new library is a welcome addition; both peaceful and stimulating to the patrons inside and passersby. With the seamless integration traditional library resources with modern technological amenities, Fallbrook Library celebrates the past, while optimistically embracing the future.

People’s Choice Onion

Pacific Highway "non-activity"

Pacific Highway between Beech and E streets, downtown San Diego

We have met the enemy he is us. A dysfunctional Congress that can’t approve a debt ceiling Limit. A strangled Sacramento that can’t even figure out a way to put budget issues to a public Vote. They must have learned their lessons here in San Diego. As a collective of individuals, interest groups, businesses, NGOs [nongovernmental organizations], city, county and state governments and too many agencies, committees, commissions and panels to list here, San Diegans have been debating the future of the gift of our bayfront since before the Nolen Plan of 1908. And yet today, Pacific Highway sits vacant, an occasional short-cut for the traffic weary commuter; a place that no dog walker dare tread – much less someone looking for a glass of water or a pack of gum or even directions.

The people of San Diego have spoken and the 2011 People’s Choice Onion goes to the “Pacific Highway inactivity,” recognizing that stretch of roadway through downtown: a non-place, a void of empty fake storefronts and sidewalks that are so underused you can’t even find old gum on them. Pacific Highway through downtown is a pedestrian adverse stretch that should be the city’s Main Street but is instead its Back Alley. We all want the waterfront to be our front porch and open to everyone, but when it gets down to the details--how much commercialization, how much parkland, how much housing -- we cannot even seem to find a common starting line. To single out any one agency for the Onion would be both wrong and inaccurate. It must be an award for all of us; public agencies, interest groups, and the broader community for not really talking with each other in order to reach common ground.